FEATURED CREDIT CARDS

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

Mission Lane Visa<sup>®</sup> Credit Card
  • No Annual Fee
  • Fair Credit
  • Enjoy coverage from Visa®.
    *See Card Terms

Indigo® Mastercard® - $1,000 Credit Limit

Indigo<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup> - $1,000 Credit Limit
  • Get the credit limit you deserve—$1,000 guaranteed if approved
    Rates & Fees

Milestone® Mastercard®

Destiny Mastercard
  • $700 Credit Limit
  • No security deposit
  • Less than perfect credit is ok
    Rates & Fees

Navigating Co-Branded Travel Cards



For travelers who have strong brand loyalty to a specific airline or hotel chain, co-branded travel cards can offer immense value. Unlike general travel cards that provide flexible points, these cards are issued in partnership with a specific brand, and the rewards are tied to that brand's loyalty program. While they may offer less flexibility, they can deliver outsized value and exclusive perks for loyal customers. For a comprehensive overview of how all travel credit cards work, read our hub article on A Complete Guide to Understanding Travel Credit Cards.

What are co-branded travel cards?

Co-branded travel cards are a type of credit card issued in partnership with a specific airline or hotel chain. When you use this card, you earn points or miles that are credited directly to that brand's loyalty program.

  • Brand Loyalty: These cards are designed for consumers who frequently fly with a single airline or stay at a specific hotel chain.

  • Targeted Rewards: The earning rates are often highest for purchases made directly with the partner brand. For example, an airline co-branded card might offer 3x miles on flights with that airline, while other purchases earn a flat 1x miles.

  • Exclusive Perks: The primary appeal of these cards is the exclusive perks and benefits offered by the partner brand. These are often things that even holders of premium general travel cards may not get. For a deeper dive into the valuable extras offered by travel cards, read our guide on Travel Credit Card Perks: Beyond Points and Miles.

  • The benefits of co-branded airline cards

    For loyal airline customers, these cards offer a host of benefits that can improve the travel experience and save money.

  • Free Checked Bags: This is one of the most common and valuable benefits, especially for families. A single free checked bag can save you money on every flight.

  • Priority Boarding: Boarding earlier allows you to get settled and secure overhead bin space, which is a significant perk on a busy flight.

  • Status Boosts: Many cards offer a way to accelerate your path to elite status with the airline, through spending tiers or other mechanisms.

  • Companion Passes: Some cards offer a "companion pass" after meeting a spending requirement, allowing a friend or family member to fly with you for a reduced cost or free.

  • In-flight Discounts: A discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases is a nice, small perk included with some cards.

  • The benefits of co-branded hotel cards

    If you are a loyal hotel guest, these cards can provide exceptional value.

  • Elite Status: Holding a co-branded hotel card can provide automatic elite status, offering perks like late checkout, room upgrades, and free night awards.

  • Annual Free Night Awards: Many cards offer an annual free night award, which can often more than offset the card's annual fee.

  • Accelerated Point Earning: These cards can help you accumulate hotel points faster, especially when booking stays with the partner hotel chain.

  • The downsides of co-branded cards

    While the benefits can be significant, there are some important drawbacks to consider.

  • Less Flexibility: Unlike general travel cards with transferable points, co-branded cards lock you into a single loyalty program. You are at the mercy of that program's award availability and redemption rates.

  • Potential for High Fees: Some premium co-branded cards can have high annual fees, and if your travel habits change, you may find the benefits no longer outweigh the cost.

  • Devaluation Risk: All reward programs are subject to devaluations. If your chosen airline or hotel devalues its points, the value of your accumulated rewards will decrease.

  • Who are co-branded cards for?

    Co-branded cards are best for a specific type of traveler.

  • Loyalty is Key: If you consistently fly with one airline or stay with one hotel brand, and that brand has a good rewards program, a co-branded card will likely be a good fit.

  • Benefit-Focused: If you highly value specific perks like free checked bags or elite status, and you will use them frequently enough to justify the annual fee, this is the right card for you.

  • For more information on comparing different card types, including general travel cards and transferable points, see our guide on How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card for You and our article on Maximizing Transferable Points for Travel and Other Redemptions.

    Related credit card articles

  • A Complete Guide to Understanding Travel Credit Cards

  • How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card for You

  • Maximizing Transferable Points for Travel and Other Redemptions

  • Travel Credit Card Perks: Beyond Points and Miles

  • Examples of Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    Below is list of Travel Rewards Credit Cards that are available to apply for online.

    Citi Strata Card

    • Earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
    • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.99% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
    • Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
    • Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
    • Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
    • No Annual Fee

    Rates & Fees

    Citi Strata Premier® Card

    • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
    • Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
    • Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
    • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
    • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
    • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

    Rates & Fees

    Citi Strata Elite Card

    • For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
    • Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
    • Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
    • Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
    • Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Rates & Fees





    Found this guide helpful? Bookmark it for future reference as you continue your financial journey!

    Experian Boost: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Free Credit Score

    FICO Credit Scores

    A credit score is a number generally between 300-850, based on a statistical analysis of a person's credit files. This score represents the credit worthiness of a person. A credit score is assigned to each individual, to rate how risky a borrower he or she is--the higher the score, the less risk the individual poses to creditors. In most cases, your credit score will determine whether you will be approved for a credit card.

    What is a Credit Score?

    A credit score is a number generally between 300-850, based on a statistical analysis of a person's credit files. This score represents the credit worthiness of a person. A credit score is assigned to each individual, to rate how risky a borrower he or she is--the higher the score, the less risk the individual poses to creditors. In most cases, your credit score will determine whether you will be approved for a credit card.

    Credit Score Facts

    1. Credit Scores range from 300-850, the higher the better.
    2. Most lenders base approval on your credit score.
    3. Higher Scores mean lower payments and better deals.
    4. Higher Scores mean Lower interest rates.
    5. Scores are determined by 5 main categories:
      • Payment History
      • Amounts Owed
      • Length of Credit History
      • Type of Credit Used
      • New Credit

    Note: Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any credit card product.

    Advertiser Disclosure:

    The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Gettingacreditcard.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Gettingacreditcard.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

    About Our Offers:

    The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Gettingacreditcard.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Gettingacreditcard.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.